The Detroit Lions top 3 defensive needs for 2020
2020 Lions Defensive Need #2 – Cornerback
The Detroit Lions have been searching for an option to pair with Darius Slay for years and have seemed to give up at points. Justin Coleman was signed to a lucrative free agent deal this past season but is best in the slot. Amani Oruwariye, a rookie, has been hurt most of the year but has flashed talent in his limited reps.
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A looming problem is Darius Slay’s deal which is still paying him an average of over twelve million dollars per year but that he appears to be unhappy about the amount of guaranteed money associated with the deal.
Slay seemed very upset with the treatment that former teammate, Quandre Diggs, received as he was shipped off to the Seattle Seahawks for a mid-round draft pick. It is safe to assume that the Lions should plan for the 29-year-old to either leave or at very least for his eventual drop-off in production.
With the Lions pass defense being so porous, in part due to a weak pass rush, the Lions must continue to spend picks at various points of the draft to locate better options for their man-coverage-heavy system. An improved pass rush will not solve all of the problems, though.
Rashaan Melvin has spent the year as the number two and had some good games but isn’t a long-term answer. Melvin is 30-years old and on a one-year deal. Mike Ford and Jamal Agnew are also there for depth but none of the backups are ideal starters.